I've been low carbing since 2006. I've been a yoyo. I need to lose 100 lbs. I've lost 60 before and have gained it back when I strayed. Same old. I know what I need to do. *sigh*

Anyway, I've been back on induction now for a week, and I'm actually UP 4 lbs. My ankles are insanely swollen and I feel awful. This has never happened to me before. I'm in tears over here.

I'm not eating any more salt than normal. The only thing that's different this time is that I'm taking Zyrtec for allergies. I'm seriously at a loss. I feel weak, and despite taking diuretics and eating almost no carbs other than salads, I'm still retaining water and gaining weight. I'm even in light ketosis and still gaining!

My calories are 1700-1800 a day-- 65% fat. Normally I'll lose 5-6 lbs. easily in the first week, and this time I'm UP that. I just don't get it. Is it the allergy medicine? I feel sick and shaky all the time. I am drinking enough water and tea. I am at a loss. I feel awful. Any advice?

I don't really have any advice for you, maybe get your blood pressure checked though. Zyrtec causes me to have high blood pressure and edema. It was scary when we (doc and I) figured it out, because I was also have migraines and finally went to the emergency room one day, because high blood pressure, edema, and splitting headache = scary things like strokes and heart attacks. I stopped the Zyrtec and blood pressure went down and no more edema. The headaches were actually something else.

Yeah, something is going on that isn't the diet. I would stop the Zyrtec for now. Can you switch to another? My allergies are kicking my butt now too, so I know how much it sucks. I'm on two prescription allergy meds and still suffering, so I'm not discounting it. Does Claritin work for you? Maybe try that and see how things look.

If the swelling doesn't go down when you go off the Zyrtec, I'd make an appointment.

Keep eating what you're eating. You know it's not the diet, and you know the gain is just water. You're still doing the right things in terms of diet, so keep moving forward.

Is it Zyrtec D or just Zyrtec? Are you male of female? What is your age? Induction should eliminate extra water as your body.

I would avoid the "D" because that's just pseudo ephedrine. It causes your blood pressure to rise, heart rate to increase, and a host of other problems. And you may be even more sensitive to it when doing low carb.

It's just regular Zyrtec. I'm female, aged 29. I know induction should eliminate water, which is why I'm so annoyed with this. I always lose several lbs. the first week on. This week I'm--as of this morning-- UP 7 lbs. Seven pounds. What the HECK is going on? Uggggh! I've even been taking water pills to help, and while my ankles look and feel better, I'm STILL up in weight. I just don't get this. Is my liver toxic? Am I unable to excrete this extra water for some reason? When I wake up, even my face is puffy. This morning it seemed less so, but the scale doesn't lie.

I really don't want to have to resort to weight loss surgery. I don't feel like my eating is out of control or anything. In fact, one frustrating fact-- beyond this week, of course-- is that I have to watch what I eat just to STAY at my current weight-- and I weigh 272 lbs.! It is embarrassing! If I ate whatever I wanted, I seriously think I'd end up weighing 400. How is it that I can eat so much less-- and so fewer carbs-- than everyone else around me and I'm still friggin' obese?! OK. I'm sorry. I'm ranting now. LOL. But seriously. I no longer feel like my body is working with me. It's working against me. I'm so insanely frustrated.

I'm coming off the Zyrtec today and trying something else. Unfortunately I get massive sinus headaches from allergies. I wish I didn't have to take the medicine at all, but I'm miserable without it. We will see if that helps.

I was just at the doctor about two months ago. I was diagnosed with idiopathic edema in 2007; the doctors could find nothing wrong with me. I haven't had a "flare up" (not sure what else to call it?) like this in years, and normally induction will suck every last ounce of water right out of me.

I am scared I'm going to have to resort to bariatric surgery. This is such a shame. I'll go back to the doc, but it's very likely he'll just say that all of my bloodwork is fine-- as usual. *sigh*

Oh, if you have a diagnosis, what has worked for you in the past (other than induction)? You might just have to get through this flare up before you see results, but I wouldn't worry about doing anything drastic. And I certainly wouldn't worry about surgery! You have a problem with edema. That doesn't mean you're not losing fat. You can't tell about fat loss right now. You know that. Just focus on eating well, and figure out how to get the edema under control.